ATLAS Lab Team

Dr. Meredith Carroll is a Professor of Aviation Human Factors, and Founder and Director of the Advancing Technology-interaction and Learning in Aviation Systems (ATLAS) Lab at Florida Institute of Technology’s College of Aeronautics. She has over 20 years of experience studying human/team performance and training in complex systems. Her research focuses on decision making in complex systems, cognition and learning, human-autonomy teaming, performance and expertise assessment, and adaptive training.  She has been funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the Army Research Laboratory (ARL), and the Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC) to study different facets of these areas. She also worked at the Kennedy Space Center conducting user-centered design of International Space Station payloads, processing facilities and ground support equipment. She teaches a range of human factors courses aimed at giving students practical, hands-on experience in applying theories of cognition and learning to optimize performance in a range of situations from aviation to defense. She received her B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Virginia, her M.S. in Aviation Science from Florida Institute of Technology and her Ph.D. in Applied Experimental Psychology and Human Factors from the University of Central Florida. .

Dr. Carroll's Faculty Profile

Chris Fernando is an adjunct faculty in Florida Tech’s College of Aeronautics where he teaches two graduate courses on the UAM Ecosystem and Infrastructure Planning for AAM.  Chris is an experienced leader, mobility researcher, and aviation consultant with more than 20 years of experience in the transportation industry. His primary background is in aviation operations and airports with a focus on emerging aviation technologies, policy development, and airport and environmental planning. He is a recognized subject matter expert in these fields and his expertise in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), urban air mobility (UAM), and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) has resulted in multiple engagements with Federal clients and multiple airports in the U.S. to support integration efforts. He has an extensive network and strategic partnerships with the industry and has leveraged these relationships to plan and host successful workshops, stakeholder engagement roundtables, and conferences related to the future of aviation. He also currently serves as a Principal at Hovecon in Raleigh, NC, and a Senior AAM Specialist at P17 Solutions in Washington, DC, He is the co-host of the No U-Turn Podcast, which is a podcast focused on the future of transportation, emerging technologies, and the workforce of the future. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Management from Florida Tech.

Dr. Warren Pittorie is a three-time College of Aeronautics graduate, who received a B.S. in 2015 and a M.S. in 2018 and a Ph.D. Aviation Sciences from Florida Tech. Warren started teaching undergraduate aviation courses at the COA in 2019, and currently works as a part-time flight instructor and a full-time faculty at the College of Aeronautics. Some of the courses he has taught include pilot technology classes that serve as Part 141 ground school for private and commercial pilot FAA certification and a graduate-level human factors course.

Dr. Vivek Sharma is an Assistant Professor at the Florida Institute of Technology. He graduated with a Ph.D. in Aviation Sciences with a concentration in Human Factors and Safety. He has been with ATLAS Lab since 2020 and has over five years of experience conducting human factors, safety, and user experience (UX) research. He also served as a lead data analyst on projects for the ATLAS Lab and the Federal Aviation Administration’s PEGASAS Center of Excellence. His research interests include aviation human factors and safety, urban air mobility, pilot personality, UX research and design, and data analytics in aviation.

Hilary Smith is a helicopter pilot, instructor pilot, and flight examiner with more than 20 years of operational and combat experience in the United States Coast Guard and Marine Corps. She is highly skilled in aviation management, crew resource management, aviation safety, risk management, standardization, and training. She has a bachelor’s degree in Ocean Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and a Master's degree in Organizational Leadership from Florida Institute of Technology. She holds an FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate with a Rotorcraft - Helicopter rating, a Commercial Airplane Single Engine Land certificate with an Instrument rating, FAA Remote Pilot certificate with a Small UAS rating, and is an FAA Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) for Rotorcraft-Helicopter and Instrument Helicopters. Her research interests include aviation safety, pilot training, human factors, Advanced Air Mobility, and unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

Dr. Bhoomin B Chauhan graduated with a Ph.D. in Aviation Sciences at College of Aeronautics, Florida Tech with a focus on Human Factors. He has previously worked with EY-Parthenon and Skymantics, LLC, as an aviation research analyst and is currently working with Hovecon as an Advanced Air Mobility Specialist studying emerging technologies in aviation. His primary background is in researching and evaluating the influence of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) on the current air transportation ecosystem and understanding human factors in the air and ground integration of AAM. He supports the ATLAS Lab, studying human factor implications of emerging AAM operations.

Kendall Carmody graduated with a MS in Aviation Human Factors from the College of Aeronautics, and is an ATLAS lab lead. She has a B.S in Aeronautical Science, and a Minor in Aviation Environmental Science. Kendall has worked as an Airport Operations Specialist intern at RockHill-York County airport, and currently co-leads two projects at the ATLAS LAB on the topics of Human Agent Teaming (HAT) and Urban Air Mobility (UAM). She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Aviation Sciences, with a focus on human factors, virtual environments, and virtual/augmented reality.

Maureen Namukasa is a Ph.D. candidate in Aviation Sciences specializing in Human Factors  at the College of Aeronautics, Florida Institute of Technology. She received her bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and M.S. in Aviation Human Factors. She co-leads the team at ATLAS Lab and continues to apply human factors principles into applied aviation research and beyond: her research interests include human performance analysis, urban air mobility, human-centered design, UX and usability, interface and interaction design, training development and evaluation.

Xiaomeng Sun is pursuing a Ph.D. in Aviation Sciences at Florida Institute of Technology. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Henan University and a Bachelor's degree in Aviation Management from Florida Institute of Technology. Additionally, she obtained a Master's degree in Airport Development and Management from Florida Institute of Technology. Her current research focuses on UAV ground control station interfaces, human-computer interaction, human factors, and Urban Air Mobility (UAM).

Jimmy Peng is currently a Ph.D. student in Aviation Sciences at Florida Tech. He is a former aviation instructor in both Taiwan and Japan and holds U.S. commercial pilot licenses. He also worked as a UAV operation safety consultant in Taiwan. His research interests focus on UAV airspace management, remote pilot training system improvement, and airplane pilot training system improvement.

Yarisse Adorno Oyola is an graduate student in Aviation Human Factors at Florida Tech's College of Aeronautics. She received her bachelor's degree in Aviation Human Factors and Safety, along with her commercial pilot license. Her research interests include general aviation (GA), human factors, advanced air mobility, and aviation safety.

Weronika Dymanus is a graduate student in Florida Tech’s College of Aeronautics, specializing in Aviation Human Factors. She earned her B.S. in Psychology at Saint Louis University. Weronika is an active member of the International Society of Air Safety Investigators and Women in Aviation. Her research interests originated from her human factors experience during her undergraduate studies and have since expanded to include pilot performance, automation trust, and human cognition.

Carlie Swords is an undergraduate student in Aeronautical Science with Flight with a minor in Aviation Safety at Florida Tech's College of Aeronautics. She is also the vice regent of the Theta Tau chapter at Florida Tech. Her research interests include aviation safety, human factors, and pilot training and performance

Isabella DeLoach is an undergraduate studying Aviation Human Factors and Safety with a minor in Unmanned Aerial Systems at Florida Tech’s College of Aeronautics. She is also the vice president of the human factors and ergonomics society. Her research interests include human factors, human-agent teaming, and pilot training and performance. 

Srushti Kolge is an undergraduate majoring in Aeroanutical Science with minors in Aviation Safety, Unmaned Aerial Systems, and Flight Operations. She is also workings towards an associates degree in Dispatch. She is involved in several aviation organizations like Women in Aviation and International Society of Air Investigations. Her research interests include flight simulation, flight operations, human AI-collaboration ,and pilot training.